Page 47 of The Wolf She Shouldn't Desire

My father, of course, said nothing when I told him what Zander had been doing in attacking the werewolves for no legitimate reason, and teenagers no less. He chose to not believe the “rumors” and to simply not acknowledge it or face the fact that Zander is a liability to our control in this city and the precarious peace we have with the wolves right now. For the life of me, I still can’t understand why or why my father wants to be allies with Zander, especially since he offers us nothing in terms of added power to the coven. He could marry me off to anyone in this city or the surrounding ones with a hell of a lot more power and influence, but instead, he chose fucking Zander.

My anger and frustration build and build the more I think on it. This happens every day now and more and more frequently that I might as well bask in the feelings and resign myself to them being my constant companions from here on out, especially after I marry Zander.

I ignore the clenching of my heart because if I don’t, I’m likely to shatter, and this bitch doesn’t shatter, no matter how tough life gets. Shit sucks, but I’ll get through it or figure a way out before it’s too late. Hell, if I can’t, maybe I’ll kill himmyself when I’m close and his guard is down. Nothing like a vengeful wife killing her husband. Always makes a great story for a murder mystery, right?

With a sigh, I continue walking down the street. It’s quiet all the way back to the coven house. No one making deals or fighting in the streets, and no allies lurking about to try to capture my attention for a quick chat. No vampires prowling the darkness either, and definitely no wolves out looking for trouble or a good fight to blow off steam. I ignore the fact that I’m looking for one wolf in particular. No point to it. He definitely doesn’t want to be around me, and it doesn’t matter what I want.

Passing Main Street, I stop, seeing the park in the distance. It has a few people lingering around, enjoying the park in the different light of the starry night and lampposts scattered throughout. Fuck it. My father can deal if I’m a little late getting back to the house. Avoidance at its finest right now, I think with a smirk as I change directions.

I find a bench shrouded in darkness to where I can watch those who pass by while staying hidden. I really don’t want to be bothered in case some lonely soul decides they want to try to chat me up. Plus, I like people watching anonymously.

Several people pass my bench. A male walking his tiny dog, two women out for a night stroll raging about a man who they found out was dating them at the same time without them knowing until now from what I can hear, a group of teenagers likely out without their parents’ knowledge laughing and ragging on each other as they push one another around, and a few couples holding hands intently talking or gazing up at the stars. One couple in particular though captures my attention. The woman stares at the man adoringly as he speaks about a topic I can’t hear from this distance. He has his arm wrapped around her as he says something with a worried expression on his face before turning to look at the woman. She smiles at him and thenspeaks something reassuring, I assume, as the man takes a deep breath and smiles back at her. He shifts to stand in front of her and grips her face while he talks. She closes her eyes and smiles in a way that conveys feelings of safety and love. The man’s smile grows bigger as she responds to what he says and then kisses her deeply. Just as quickly, he pulls away from her mouth, grabs her up in a big hug that lifts her feet off the ground, and twirls her around, causing pure laughter to spill from the women.

I smile at the sight of how happy they are together and the carefree and natural ease between them. My heart swells for them but soon crashes in longing for that same type of love and interaction. As I continue to stare at them, my smile fades bit by bit. They begin to playfully chase each other around a tree like two children without a care in the world who might see them.

Out of the corner of my eye, a shadow sits down next to me. I don’t need to turn my head to see who it is. I know who it is.

“You okay?” Danny whispers next to me.

“Not really.” I lean to the side and lay my head on his shoulder. “They look so happy. I bet they don’t have to worry about their parents wanting them to marry for some political or power play. Or worry about enemies attacking them around every corner. They love each other and may have had to fight a little to get where they are but not tooth and nail likely.Theyget to be with who they choose to be with not what anyone else decides for them.Theyhave the freedom to do so.”

Danny says nothing and wraps his arm around my shoulder.

The couple finally grab onto each other again, tenderly kiss, and then take each other’s hands before walking on down the path again further into the park.

It’s so easy for them to love and be in love. Not for me, though. I’ll never get a love like that.

I close my eyes as I internally wallow at the future I wish I could have but can’t. A future that dies with my marriage to Zander.

I’m going to fix this Talia, Danny speaks down the bond.

There is no way to fix it, Danny. As long as my father is a threat to you, there is no way of getting out of this.

Do you trust me?

I lift my head and stare into his eyes. Determination and a steely resolve stare back at me.Of course I trust you.

Then I’ll take care of it.

What does that mean?

It means I have a plan. One that Asher, Nolan, Kane, and Damien are willing to help me with if it means stopping your father from marrying you to Zander.

We’ve already been over several plans and none of them will work, Danny.

There’s one we didn’t discuss that I came up with as a last result that will get you out of marrying Zander without your father retaliating against you or me.

What plan?

He stares at me and says nothing.

Danny, what plan?!

It’s better you don’t know.

The hell it is! I can provide another analysis to see if there are any flaws in the plan that could get anyone of you in trouble or hurt. So, please tell me.

He shakes his head no. You need plausible deniability in this one, Talia. Trust me. We have it worked out and it will work. Just let us take care of it.

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